Electronic apparatus, external apparatus and method of controlling the same

ABSTRACT

An electronic apparatus includes a locking unit to selectively lock a physical connection with an external apparatus and a control unit to control an operation mode of the electronic apparatus, according to a connection state with the external apparatus, in which the control unit controls the locking unit to lock the connection with the external apparatus, when the electronic apparatus is in an operation mode of using a graphic processing unit of the external apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of prior application Ser.No. 14/079,800, filed on Nov. 14, 2013, which issues as U.S. Pat. No.9,640,137 on May 2, 2017 and claimed the benefit under 35 U.S.C § 119(a)of a Korean patent applications filed on Dec. 3, 2012 in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office and assigned Serial No. 10-2012-0139239,the entire disclosures of each of which is hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present general inventive concept relates to an electronicapparatus, an external apparatus and a method of controlling the same,and more specifically, to an electronic apparatus, an external apparatusand a method of controlling the same, in which a physical short circuitbetween the electronic apparatus and the external apparatus is preventedwhen the electronic apparatus uses a graphic function of the externalapparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a conventional personal computer, a graphic processing unit (GPU) maybe included in the same package with a central processing unit (CPU) ora main chipset (iGPS, integrated Graphics Processing Unit), or may bemounted on a main board in a separate package (dGPU, discrete GraphicsProcessing Unit), or designed as a separate module to be mounted on asystem. Further, by combining an iGPU with an iGPU, or combining a dGPUwith a dGPU, high graphic processing performance could be provided.

Moreover, there have been recent advancements regarding applications andcontents that require high processing capacity of GPU, such asmultimedia, games, etc. However, complications with high-performanceGPUs within systems having an emphasis on mobility, such as laptopcomputers, tablet computers, etc., include the problems of powerconsumption, generation of heat, etc.

For this reason, a system is being introduced in which an iGPU having arelatively low power consumption is implemented, and high-performancedGPU is implemented in a docking apparatus that can be attachable to anddetachable from a main system, thereby enabling to use a GPU of adocking apparatus as needed.

However, the above system experiences a significant problem that iscaused by a sudden release of a docking apparatus from a laptop.Specifically, when a cable connector, which connects the dockingapparatus and the laptop, comes out while driving a laptop using a GPUof the docking apparatus, there occurs a system failure on the laptopcomputer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present general inventive concept provides an electronic apparatus,an external apparatus and a method of controlling the same, in which aphysical short circuit between the electronic apparatus and the externalapparatus is prevented when the electronic apparatus uses a graphicfunction of the external apparatus.

Additional features and utilities of the present general inventiveconcept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and,in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned bypractice of the general inventive concept.

The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present generalinventive concept are achieved by providing an electronic apparatus,which includes a locking unit to selectively lock a physical connectionwith the external apparatus and a control unit to control an operationmode of the electronic apparatus, according to a connection state withthe external apparatus, in which the control unit controls the lockingunit to lock the connection with the external apparatus, when theelectronic apparatus is in an operation mode of using a graphicprocessing unit of the external apparatus.

The electronic apparatus may further include a graphic processing unitto perform the graphic processing.

When the electronic apparatus and the external apparatus are notconnected, the control unit may control the electronic apparatus tooperate in a first operation mode in which the electronic apparatus usesonly the graphic processor to perform a graphic processing, and when theelectronic apparatus and the external apparatus are connected, thecontrol unit may control the electronic apparatus to operate in a secondoperation mode in which the electronic apparatus uses at least one ofthe graphic processing unit and a graphic processing unit of theexternal apparatus to perform a graphic processing.

The electronic apparatus may further include a user interface unit toreceive input of command to release connection from the externalapparatus, in which when the connection release command is input, theoperation mode of the electronic apparatus is converted to an operationmode of using only the graphic processing unit in the electronicapparatus.

When the operation mode of the electronic apparatus is converted to anoperation mode of using only the graphic processing unit in theelectronic apparatus, the control unit may control the locking unit torelease connection from the external apparatus.

The user interface unit may receive input of the connection releasecommand through a user interface window.

The user interface unit may receive input of the connection releasecommand through a physical button to release the external apparatus fromthe electronic apparatus.

The electronic apparatus may further include a socket unit to performinterfacing between the electronic apparatus and the external apparatus,in which the electronic apparatus and the external apparatus areconnected through a cable connector, and the user interface unit mayreceive input of the connection release command through a physicalbutton to release the connector of the cable connector from the socketunit.

The electronic apparatus and the external apparatus may be connectedthrough a cable connector having a predetermined groove, in which theelectronic apparatus is electrically and physically connected with thecable connector, and may further include a socket unit to interfacebetween the electronic apparatus and the cable connector, and thelocking unit may include a moving member that may move with respect tothe groove.

The connector of the cable connector may include a plurality ofterminals which are electrically connected with the socket unit and asubstrate having the plurality of terminals, and the groove may bepositioned at one side of the substrate.

The connector of the cable connector may be provided with a physicalbutton to release the connector of the cable connector from the socketunit, and the physical button may be electrically connected with atleast one terminal among the plurality of terminals to transmitconnection release command to the electronic apparatus.

The button may be connected to a Hot Plug Detect (HPD) terminal amongthe plurality of terminals.

The electronic apparatus may further include a user interface unitconfigured to display detachability from the external apparatus, whenthe external apparatus is connected with the external apparatus.

The user interface unit may display the detachability through a userinterface window.

The user interface unit may display the detachability by using a lightemitting device which emits lights according to a position of the movingmember of the locking unit.

The electronic apparatus may further include a socket unit configured toperform interfacing between the electronic apparatus and the externalapparatus, in which the socket unit may be directly connected with theexternal device.

The socket unit may be interfaced with the external apparatus via atleast one of HDMI and thunderbolt.

The graphic processor may be an iGPU provided for a CPU or a main boardchip.

The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present generalinventive concept may also be achieved by providing an externalapparatus, which includes a locking unit to selectively lock a physicalconnection with the electronic apparatus, a graphic processing unit toperform graphic processing of the electronic apparatus, and a controlunit to control the locking unit to lock connection with the electronicapparatus, when the electronic apparatus is in an operation mode ofusing a function of the graphic processor.

The electronic apparatus and the external apparatus may be connectedthrough a cable connector having a predetermined groove, and theexternal apparatus may further include a socket unit to performinterfacing between the connector of the cable connector and theexternal apparatus, and the locking unit may include a moving memberthat may be moved with respect to the groove.

The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present generalinventive concept may also be achieved by providing a method ofcontrolling an electronic apparatus connectable with an externalapparatus, including receiving a command to release connection from theexternal apparatus, converting the operation mode of the electronicapparatus to an operation mode of not using a function of the externalapparatus, and releasing a physical connection with the externalapparatus by moving a moving member that is movable, when an operationmode of the electronic apparatus is converted.

The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present generalinventive concept may also be achieved by providing an electronicapparatus connectable with an external apparatus, including a lockingunit to selectively lock a physical connection with the externalapparatus based on the electronic apparatus switching from a firstoperation mode to a second operation mode, wherein the second operationmode allows the electronic apparatus to access at least one component ofthe external apparatus.

The electronic apparatus may further include a control unit to controlthe locking unit to lock the physical connection with the externalapparatus in response to the switch from the first operation mode to thesecond operation mode.

The at least one component may be a graphic processing unit of theexternal apparatus.

The first operation mode may not allow the electronic apparatus toaccess the at least one component of the external apparatus.

The conversion of the electronic apparatus from a first operation modeto a second operation mode may occur in response to the establishedconnection between the electronic apparatus and the external apparatus.

The locking unit may include a moving member to shift from a firstposition such that the electronic apparatus is unlocked, to a secondposition to lock the electronic apparatus to the external apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other features and utilities of the present generalinventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated fromthe following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an example of an electronic systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electronicapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an externalapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views illustrating an operation of a socket unit inFIG. 2 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an example of a socket unit according toanother exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a specific example of an LED display unitin FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an operation of a locking unit accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an example of converting an operation modeof the electronic apparatus according to a connection state with theexternal apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating various examples of a user interfacewindow that may be displayed in a user interface unit in FIG. 2according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept;

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an example of the electronic apparatusand the external apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment ofthe present general inventive concept;

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating an example of the electronic apparatusand the external apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment ofthe present general inventive concept; and

FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating a method for controlling anelectronic apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentgeneral inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the likeelements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order toexplain the present general inventive concept while referring to thefigures.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an example of an electronic system 1000according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept.

Referring to FIG. 1, the electronic system 1000 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept includesan electronic apparatus 100 and an external apparatus 300.

The electronic apparatus 100 receives input of a driving command from auser, and operates according to the received driving command. Further,the electronic apparatus 100 is connected with the external apparatus300 through a cable connector 400, or directly connected therewith.Examples of such electronic apparatus 100 may include a laptop, a tabletPC, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a PMP, an MP3, etc., but is notlimited thereto.

Specifically, when the electronic apparatus 100 is not connected withthe external apparatus 300, the electronic apparatus 100 operates in afirst operation mode using its own graphic processing unit, and when theelectronic apparatus 100 is connected with the external apparatus 300,the electronic apparatus 100 operates in a second operation mode using agraphic processing unit of the external apparatus 300. Further, theelectronic apparatus 100 may include a locking unit 220, as illustratedin FIG. 5, to prevent the electronic apparatus 100 from beingelectrically isolated from the external apparatus 300. The structure andfunction of the electronic apparatus will be described below withreference to FIG. 2.

The external apparatus 300 is an apparatus to expand functions of theelectronic apparatus 100. More specifically, the external apparatus 300may be a docking apparatus that is not able to operate by itself, butoperates only when being mounted on the electronic apparatus 100.Specifically, the external apparatus 300, which is equipped with agraphic processing unit 310, may expand graphic processing performanceof the electronic apparatus 100. Further, the external apparatus 300 mayexpand user interface function of the electronic apparatus 100. Forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a display function may be expandedthough an external display apparatus 20, or an input function may beexpanded by using a keyboard, a touch pad, or any other type of motionsensor and/or detector included therein. Further, the external apparatus300 may expand storage space of the electronic apparatus 100. Althoughthe exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive conceptassumes that the external apparatus 300 is a docking apparatus that isnot able to operate by itself, the external apparatus 300 may beembodied as an apparatus that is able to operate by itself.

The electronic system 1000, as described above, may prevent a physicalshort circuit between the electronic apparatus 100 and the externalapparatus 300 by using the locking unit 220 of FIG. 5, when theelectronic apparatus 100 uses a graphic function of the externalapparatus 300.

Meanwhile, although illustrated and described in FIG. 1 that theelectronic apparatus 100 and the external apparatus 300 are connectedthrough the cable connector 400, the electronic apparatus 100 and anexternal apparatus 300 may be directly connected as illustrated in FIGS.11 and 12. Such example will be described below with reference to FIGS.11 and 12.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electronicapparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 2, the electronic apparatus 100 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept includes acommunication interface unit 110, a graphic processing unit 120, a userinterface unit 130, a storage unit 140, a control unit 150 and a socketunit 200. Herein, the electronic apparatus 100 may be a laptop, a tabletPC, an MP3, a PMP, etc., which can be connectable with the externalapparatus 300, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Hereinafter, description willbe made by assuming that the external apparatus 300 is a dockingapparatus.

The electronic apparatus 100 includes a plurality of operation modes.The plurality of operation modes includes a first operation mode inwhich a graphic is processed by only a graphic processing unit 120provided inside the electronic apparatus 100, and a second operationmode in which a graphic is processed by a graphic processing unit 310within the external apparatus 300. Meanwhile, in the exemplaryembodiment of the present general inventive concept, operation modes aredivided depending on whether a graphic processing function is used.However, such operation modes may be divided into a first operation modeof not using an external apparatus, and a second operation mode of usingan external apparatus.

The communication interface unit 110 is formed to connect the electronicapparatus 100 with the external apparatus 300 of FIG. 1, in whichconnection may be made to the external apparatus 300 through Local AreaNetwork (LAN) and Internet network, as well as by wirelesscommunications (for example, GSM, UMTS. LTE, WiBRO, etc.).

Further, the communication interface unit 110 may communicate with theexternal apparatus 300 through the socket unit 200. Specifically, whenthe electronic apparatus 100 is connected with the external apparatus300, the communication interface unit 110 transmits a command to processa graphic to be processed in the graphic processing unit 310, andreceives the processing result.

In addition, the communication interface unit 110 may receive input of auser control command from the external apparatus 300, and transmit animage (or a moving image) to be displayed on the external apparatus 300.Further, the communication interface unit 110 may be connected to anexternal apparatus 300 or Internet network through the externalapparatus 300.

The socket unit 200 is configured to interface between the electronicapparatus 100 and the external apparatus 300. Specifically, the socketunit 200 may be connected to an external apparatus through the cableconnector 400 as illustrated in FIG. 1, and may also be directlyconnected to the socket unit 200 of the external apparatus, asillustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12.

In addition, the socket unit 200 may include the locking unit 220 ofFIG. 5 that selectively locks a physical connection with the externalapparatus 300 by using a moving member that is movable. For example,when the external apparatus 300 and the electronic apparatus 100 areconnected through a cable connector 400, the locking unit selectivelylocks a physical connection between the cable connector 400 and theelectronic apparatus 100, and when the external apparatus 300 and theelectronic apparatus 100 are directly connected, the locking unit 220selectively locks a physical connection between the two apparatuses.Specific operation of the socket unit 200 will be described below withreference to FIG. 4.

A graphic processing unit 120 is configured to perform graphicprocessing. Specifically, the graphic processing unit 120 processescomputation associated with graphics, and operates independently whenthe electronic apparatus 100 is in a first operation mode. Further, whenthe electronic apparatus 100 is in a second operation mode, the graphicprocessing unit 120 distributedly processes computation associated withgraphics along with a graphic processing unit 310 of the externalapparatus 300.

The graphic processing unit 120 may be implemented in an independentpackaging of dGPU, or in an iGPU within a CPU or a main board chip.Further, the electronic apparatus 100 may be embodied to include aplurality of graphic processing units. For example, the electronicapparatus 100 may be provided with an iGPU and a dGPU, and may processcomputation associated with graphics using one iGPU, or two dGPUs, whenconnected to the external apparatus 300.

Further, when connected with the external apparatus 300, that is, whenthe electronic apparatus 100 is in a second operation mode, the graphicprocessing unit 120 may determine whether to perform graphic processingoperations independently or along with a graphic processing unit 310connected to the external apparatus 300, based on a demand for graphicprocessing capacity made by an application being executed.

Specifically, in the case where high graphic performance is notrequired, the graphic processing unit 120 may perform graphic processingindependently, even when being connected to the external apparatus 300.Further, when an application that requires high graphic performance,such as a game, is driven, the graphic processing unit 120 may determineto perform graphic processing along with a graphic processing unit ofthe external apparatus 300 or determine that graphic processing isperformed only by the graphic processing unit 310 of the externalapparatus. For example, when a processed graphic is displayed on adisplay apparatus connected to the external apparatus 300, the graphicprocessing unit 120 may control that the graphic processing is performedonly by the graphic processing unit 310 of the external apparatus 300.

A user interface unit 130 includes a plurality of function keys by whicha user may set or select various functions supported by the electronicapparatus 100, and may display various information provided by theelectronic apparatus 100. The user interface unit 130 may be embodied asan apparatus, such as a touch screen, which performs an input and anoutput operation at the same time. Meanwhile, the user interface unit130 may further include a certain button, etc.

Further, the user interface unit 130 may display various informationprovided by the electronic apparatus 100 on the external apparatus 300through the communication interface unit 110. Specifically, when theelectronic apparatus 100 is connected with the external apparatus 300,the user interface unit 130 may control the communication interface unit110 so that a user interface window to be displayed on the electronicapparatus 100 may be displayed on the external apparatus 300, or on adisplay apparatus 20 connected to the external apparatus 300.

When the electronic apparatus 100 is connected with the externalapparatus 300, the user interface unit 130 may display the connectionwith the external apparatus 300. Further, the user interface unit 130may receive input of a connection release command to release connectionfrom the external apparatus 300. The connection release command may beselected through the user interface window, and the input of which maybe received through a separate button.

The user interface unit 130 may display detachability from the externalapparatus 300. Specifically, following a connection release command by auser, the electronic apparatus 100 is in a condition detachable from theexternal apparatus 300, that is, an operation mode of the electronicapparatus 100 is converted from a second operation mode to a firstoperation mode, the detachability may be displayed. The displayoperation may be performed through the user interface window, and mayalso be performed through a separate light emitting device. The exampleof using a separate light emitting device will be described below withreference to FIGS. 7 and 8, and the example of using the user interfacewindow will be described with reference to FIG. 10.

A storage unit 140 may be configured to store a program to drive theelectronic apparatus 100. Specifically, the storage unit 140 may store aprogram which is a collection of various instructions needed for drivingthe electronic apparatus 100. Herein, the program includes not only anapplication to provide a certain service, but also an operating programto drive an application.

The storage unit 140 may be embodied as a storage medium and an externalstorage medium in the electronic apparatus 100, for example, a removabledisk including a USB memory, or a web server through a network.

A control unit 150 is configured to control each element in theelectronic apparatus 100. Specifically, the control unit 150 determinesan operation mode depending on whether the external apparatus 300 ismounted. More specifically, the control unit 150 determines a secondoperation mode when the electronic apparatus 100 is connected with theexternal apparatus 300, and determines a first operation mode when theelectronic apparatus 100 is not connected with an external apparatus300.

Further, when connected with the external apparatus 300, the controlunit 150 may control each element in the external apparatus 300.

The control unit 150 is configured to control the locking unit 220 ofFIG. 5 according to an operation mode of the electronic apparatus 100.Specifically, when the electronic apparatus 100 is in a first operationmode, the control unit 150 controls a moving member of the locking unit220 to be positioned at a predetermined first position, and when theelectronic apparatus 100 is in a second operation mode, the control unit150 controls a moving member of the locking unit 220 to be positioned ata predetermined second position. Herein, the predetermined firstposition is a position of the moving member where a connector of thecable connector 400 or the socket unit 200 of the external apparatus 300is allowed to be moved to the socket unit 200 without disturbance, andthe predetermined second position is a position of a groove of theconnector of the cable connector 400 or a position of a certain grooveof the external apparatus 300 where the connector of the cable connector400 or the socket unit 200 of the external apparatus 300 is not allowedto be moved.

Further, with the electronic apparatus 100 in a second operation mode,when receiving input of a connection release command through the userinterface unit 130, the control unit 150 may convert the operation modeof the electronic apparatus 100 to a first operation mode. Uponcompletion of the mode conversion, the control unit 150 may control thelocking unit 220 of FIG. 5 to be released from the external apparatus300 or the cable connector 400.

As described above, according to exemplary embodiments of the presentgeneral inventive concept, the electronic apparatus 100 of the presentgeneral inventive concept has an effect in that a physical short circuitbetween the electronic apparatus 100 and the external apparatus 300 isprevented by using the locking unit 220 of FIG. 5 when the electronicapparatus 100 is in a second operation mode. By preventing a physicalshort circuit between the electronic apparatus 100 and an externalapparatus 300 as mentioned above, an unintentional, sudden release of adGPU can also be prevented when using a graphic processing unit 310 ofthe external apparatus 300, thereby enabling a safe use of a PC system.

Meanwhile, although the above exemplary embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept describes the situation where the electronicapparatus 100 uses a graphic processing function of the externalapparatus 300 resulting in an operation mode of the electronic apparatus100 being converted and the locking unit 220 being controlled, thepresent general inventive concept may also be embodied using otherfunctions. More specifically, the present general inventive concept mayinclude a user interface function (for example, a keyboard function anda display function) or a storage function, etc., in addition to agraphic processing function of the external apparatus 300, such that thelocking unit 220 is controlled so as not to release the externalapparatus 300, and that when other functions are not used, the lockingunit 220 may be controlled so that the external apparatus 300 may bereleased.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an externalapparatus 300 according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 3, the external apparatus 300 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept is adocking apparatus that includes a graphic processing unit 310, a controlunit 320 and a socket unit 200. Herein, the external apparatus 300 is anapparatus that may expand at least one function of the electronicapparatus 100, for example, a graphic function, an input function or anoutput function of the electronic apparatus 100.

The socket unit 200 is configured to perform interfacing between theelectronic apparatus 100 and the external apparatus 300. Specifically,the socket unit 200 may be connected with the electronic apparatus 100through the cable connector 400 as illustrated in FIG. 1, and may bedirectly connected with the socket unit 200 of the electronic apparatus100, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12.

Further, the socket unit 200 uses a moving member that is movable, andincludes a locking unit 220 of FIG. 5 that locks a physical connectionwith the electronic apparatus 100. For example, when the externalapparatus 300 and the electronic apparatus 100 are connected through thecable connector 400, the locking unit 220 may selectively lock aphysical connection between the cable connector 400 and the electronicapparatus 100. Specific operation of the socket unit 200 will bedescribed below with reference to FIG. 4.

Meanwhile, although described in FIG. 3 that when the external apparatus300 is directly connected with the electronic apparatus 100, the socketunit 200 of the external apparatus 300 performs a physical locking, theconnection operation may be performed in one of the socket unit 200 ofthe external apparatus 300 and the socket unit 200 of the electronicapparatus 100.

The graphic processing unit 310 is configured to perform a graphicprocessing of the electronic apparatus 100. Specifically, when theexternal apparatus 300 is connected to the electronic apparatus 100, andthe electronic apparatus 100 is in a second operation mode, the graphicprocessing unit 120 may distributedly process computation associatedwith graphics of the electronic apparatus 100 along with the graphicprocessing unit 310 of the external apparatus 300.

The control unit 320 is configured to control each element in theexternal apparatus 300. Specifically, the control unit 320 controls thelocking unit according to an operation mode. For example, when theelectronic apparatus 100 is in a first operation mode, the control unit320 controls a moving member of the locking unit to be positioned at apredetermined first position, and when the electronic apparatus 100 isin a second operation mode, the control unit 320 controls a movingmember of the locking unit to be positioned at a predetermined secondposition. Herein, the predetermined first position is a position of themoving member where a connector of the cable connector 400 or the socketunit 200 of the external apparatus 300 is allowed to be moved to thesocket unit without disturbance, and the predetermined second positionis a position of a groove of the connector of the cable connector 400 ora position of a certain groove of the external apparatus 300 where theconnector of the cable connector 400 or the socket unit 200 of theexternal apparatus 300 is not allowed to be moved.

As described above, according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept, the external apparatus 300 of the presentgeneral inventive concept has an effect in that a physical short circuitbetween the electronic apparatus 100 and an external apparatus 300 isprevented by using the locking unit 220 of FIG. 5 when operating in asecond operation mode of using the graphic processing unit 310 of theexternal apparatus 300. By preventing a physical short circuit betweenthe electronic apparatus 100 and the external apparatus 300 as mentionedabove, an unintentional, sudden release of a dGPU can also be preventedwhen using the graphic processing unit 310 of an external apparatus 300,thereby enabling a safe use of a PC system.

Meanwhile, although illustrated and described in FIG. 3 that theexternal apparatus 300 is connected with the electronic apparatus 100through the socket unit 200 and the cable connector 400, the externalapparatus 300 may be embodied as an apparatus including only a cableconnector 400. That is, the cable connector 400 and the externalapparatus 300 illustrated in FIG. 3 may be embodied in a singleapparatus.

Meanwhile, although illustrated and described in FIG. 3 that theexternal apparatus 300 expands only the graphic processing performanceof the electronic apparatus 100, the external apparatus 300 may alsoexpand a network connecting function (for example, when a LAN isconnected to the external apparatus 300), a storage function (forexample, when the external apparatus 300 is provided with an additionalHDD or SDD), or a user interface function (for example, a keyboard, amouse, a touch screen, a touch pad, etc.).

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views illustrating an operation of the socket unit 200of FIG. 2. Specifically, FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the socket unit200 before being connected with the cable connector 400, and FIG. 5 is aview illustrating the socket unit 200 when being connected with thecable connector 400.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the socket unit 200 includes a housing unit210 and a locking unit 220.

The housing unit 210 is connected to the external apparatus 300 througha connector 410 of the cable connector 400. Specifically, the housingunit 210 includes a plurality of terminals, and may be connectedone-on-one with a plurality of terminals of the connector 410 of thecable connector 400. Pins of the plurality of terminals may be arrangedin an HDMI or thunderbolt manner.

One terminal 230 of the plurality of terminals may be electricallyconnected with a physical button 440 to release the connector of thecable connector. Therefore, with the connector 410 of the cableconnector 400 connected to the housing unit 210, when a user pushes thephysical button 440 of the connector 410 of the cable connector 400, oneterminal of the connector of the cable connector, which is connected tothe physical button, is grounded by the pushing of the physical button440, and one terminal 230 of the housing unit 210 connected thereto isalso grounded. Thus, the electronic apparatus 100 determines that aconnection release command is input from a user to release the cableconnector 400 from the electronic apparatus 100, and an operation modeof the electronic apparatus 100 is converted as described above.

Meanwhile, one terminal connected to the physical button 440 asmentioned above may be an HPD pin. When the HPD pin is electricallyconnected to the physical button 440 as described above, not only theelectronic apparatus 100, but also the external apparatus 300 mayindirectly recognize the input of connection release command.

The locking unit 220 locks a physical connection with the externalapparatus 300 by using a moving member that is movable by an electricsignal (ext GPU ON#). Specifically, the locking unit 220 is arranged atone side of the housing unit 210, and more specifically, arranged at aposition corresponding to a predetermined groove 430 of the connector410 of the cable connector 400. When the electronic apparatus 100 is ina first operation mode, the moving member is placed inside the lockingunit 220, and when the operation mode of the electronic apparatus 100 isconverted to a second operation mode by being connected with theconnector 410 of the cable connector 400, the moving member is moved tothe predetermined groove 430 such that the connector 410 of the cableconnector 400 is not released from the electronic apparatus 100.

Further, with the electronic apparatus 100 in a second operation mode,when a connection release command is input from a user, and theoperating mode of the electronic apparatus 100 is converted to a firstoperation mode, the locking unit 220 moves the moving member to theinside of the locking unit 220 to release the connector 410 of the cableconnector 400.

The cable connector 400 may include a cable 420, a connector positionedat both ends of the cable 420 and a button.

One or more signal lines are formed in a cover of the cable 420. Whenthe cable connector 400 is connected between the electronic apparatus100 and the external apparatus 300, an electric signal and power sourceare transmitted between the two apparatuses through the one or moresignal lines formed inside the cable 420.

The connector 410 is formed at both ends of the cable 420. Specifically,the connector 410 includes a substrate, a plurality of terminals areformed on one surface or both surfaces of the substrate, one end of theplurality of terminals is connected with the signal line, and the otherend may be electrically connected with a terminal of the housing unit210. The formation of the connector 410 may correspond to the formationof the housing unit 210.

The substrate of the connector 410 may have the predetermined groove 430positioned at the side thereof. The predetermined groove 430 may becoupled with the moving member of the locking unit 220. Meanwhile,although illustrated and described in the exemplary embodiment of thepresent general inventive concept that the predetermined groove 430 isarranged at the side of the substrate, the predetermined groove 430 maybe positioned at the center of the substrate. In this case, the lockingunit 220 is arranged at a lower or upper position of the housing unit210, and the moving member is moved to an upper or lower position so asto lock the connector 410.

The button 440 is where a user pushes to release the cable connector 400from the electronic apparatus 100. The button 440 includes an electricswitch, which may be electrically connected with one of the plurality ofterminals of the connector 410. Thus, when the user pushes the button440, one of the plurality of terminals is grounded, and a terminal ofthe housing unit 210 connected to the corresponding terminal is alsogrounded, such that pushing of the button by the user may be notified tothe electronic apparatus 100.

Further, the cable connector 400 may include a physical latch, which isspaced apart by the button 440.

Although described in FIGS. 4 and 5 that the locking unit 220 isprovided inside the socket unit 200, the locking unit 220 may beexternal from the socket unit 200. Further, although described that theconnector 410 is formed at both ends of the cable 420, it may beembodied that the connector 410 may be formed at only one end of thecable 420, and the other end of the cable 420 may be directly connectedto the external apparatus 300 without the connector 410.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views illustrating a socket unit 200 and a displayunit (a.k.a., an LED display unit or an LED indicator unit) 230,respectively, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the socket unit 200 according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept includes ahousing unit 210, a locking unit 220 and the display unit 230. Thehousing unit 210 and the locking unit 220 are operated in the samemanner as in FIGS. 4 and 5, and thus, additional description thereofwill be omitted.

The display unit 230 is configured to display detachability form theexternal apparatus 300. Specifically, the display unit 230 includes aresistor 231 arranged in series with and a light emitting device 232.Further, the display unit 230 is operated by a driving signal (Ext GPUOn#) that drives the locking unit 220. Meanwhile, although FIGS. 6 and 7illustrate that the display unit 230 is operated by the driving signalof the locking unit 220, a separate signal line may be used to operatethe display unit 230.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an operation of a locking unit 220according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 8, a moving member 221 of the locking unit 220may move from side to side (i.e., up and down as illustrated in FIG. 8).Thus, when the cable connector 400 of FIG. 1 is released, the movingmember 221 of the locking unit 220 is arranged in a lower region, thatis, on the locking unit 220, such that the cable connector 400 may beinstalled in the housing unit 210.

Thereafter, when the connector 410 of the cable connector 400 isinstalled in the housing unit 210, the moving member 221 of the lockingunit 220 may be moved to the predetermined groove 430 of the connector410 of the cable connector 400. When the moving member 221 is positionedat the predetermined groove 430 of the connector 410, the cableconnector 400 is not released by the moving member 221 even when a userdesires to release the cable connector 400.

Meanwhile, although illustrate and described in FIG. 8 that one lockingunit 220 is provided, two locking units 220 may be arranged at bothsides of the housing unit 210.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an operation of the locking unit 220according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 9, first of all, the external apparatus 300 andthe electronic apparatus 100 are separated. Under this condition, (1)when the external apparatus 300 and the electronic apparatus 100 areconnected through the cable connector 400 (i.e., the connection betweenthe external apparatus 300 and the electronic apparatus 100 is sensed ordetermined), (2) the operation mode of the electronic apparatus 100 isconverted from a first operation mode to a second operation mode.Thereafter, (3) the locking unit 220 moves the moving member 221, so asto lock the external apparatus 300 and the electronic apparatus 100. Bythe control of the locking unit 220, the display unit 230 displays anLED indicating that releasing is not possible.

Thereafter, (4) upon receiving a connection release command from a user,specifically, when receiving a command to release the apparatusesthrough a user interface window, or when a user pushes a cable connectorbutton 440, the operation mode the electronic apparatus 100 is convertedfrom a second operation mode to a first operation mode. (5) When theoperation mode of the electronic apparatus 100 is converted to a firstoperation mode by the operation of conversion, the locking unit 220moves the moving member 221, so as to release the electronic apparatus100 from the external apparatus 300. And the display unit 230 may blockthe display operation of LED so as to indicate that releasing ispossible. Meanwhile, although illustrated that detachability isdisplayed by turning off the LED, detachability may be displayed byturning on the LED, and the LED may be turned off to display thatreleasing is not possible.

When the connection of the external apparatus 300 and the electronicapparatus 100 is released by moving the moving member 221, (6) the usermay release the cable connector 400 from the electronic apparatus 100,and (7) the external apparatus 300 also enters an OFF state in responseto the release of the cable connector 400.

Meanwhile, although the present exemplary embodiment illustrates thatthe external apparatus 300 enters an OFF state in response to therelease of the cable connector 400, the button 440 that receives inputof a connection release command may be connected to an HPD pin, and inthis case, the external apparatus 300 may be turned off before therelease of the cable connector 400 by using a signal of the HPD pin.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating various examples of a user interfacewindow that may be displayed in the user interface unit 130 of FIG. 2.

Referring to view (a) of FIG. 10, when the user interface windowreceives input of a connection release command through a physical button440, it receives confirmation from the user whether to proceed with theconnection release. Upon receiving the user confirmation through theuser interface window, the operation mode of the electronic apparatus100 is converted from a second operation mode to a first operation modeas described above.

Referring to view (b) of FIG. 10, after receiving the user confirmationthrough the user interface window, the user interface window displaysthat the operation mode of the electronic apparatus 100 is beingconverted.

Referring to view (c) of FIG. 10, as the electronic apparatus 100 isconverted, and the operation of the locking unit is stopped, the userinterface window displays that releasing is possible.

Meanwhile, although the present exemplary embodiment illustrates thatwhen a connection release command is input though a physical buttonprovided for the cable, the connection release command is confirmedthrough the user interface window, such an operation may be omitted.Further, the connection release command may not be input through aphysical button, but through the user interface window.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an operation of an electronic apparatus100′ and an external apparatus 300′ according to another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, the electronic apparatus 100′ according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept includesat a bottom thereof a socket unit 200 to be connected with the externalapparatus 300′. Further, the socket unit 200 may be directly connectedwith a socket unit 200 of the external apparatus 300′, rather thanthrough a cable connector.

The electronic apparatus 100′ according to another exemplary embodimentof the present general inventive concept have the same operation as thatof the electronic apparatus 100 and the socket unit 200 described above,with the only difference in terms of their position, and thus,description on the overlapped details will be omitted.

Meanwhile, although illustrated in the illustrated example that thelocking unit 220 is arranged on the external apparatus 300′, the lockingunit 220 may be arranged on the electronic apparatus 100′. Further, inthe illustrated example, a release button 340 to release the externalapparatus from the electronic apparatus 100 is arranged on the externalapparatus 300′, it may be embodied that the release button 340 may bearranged on the electronic apparatus 100′.

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating an operation of an electronic apparatus100″ and an external apparatus 300′ according to another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 12, the electronic apparatus 100″ according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept includesat a bottom end thereof a socket unit 200 to be connected with anexternal apparatus 300″. Further, the socket unit 200 may be directlyconnected with a socket unit 200 of the external apparatus 300′, ratherthan through a cable connector. The electronic apparatus 100″ accordingto another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive conceptmay be a tablet device or a slate PC, for which a separate keyboardinput unit is not provided, but is not limited thereto.

The external apparatus 300′ according to another exemplary embodiment ofthe present general inventive concept may be an apparatus which includesa keyboard, a touch pad, etc., but is not limited thereto.

The electronic apparatus 100″ according to another exemplary embodimentof the present general inventive concept have the same operation as thatof the electronic apparatus 100 and the socket unit 200, with the onlydifference being in terms of their position, and thus, description onthe overlapped details will be omitted.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating a method of controlling anelectronic apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent general inventive concept.

First, an external apparatus 300 is connected with an electronicapparatus 100, and the external apparatus 300 and the electronicapparatus 100 are physically connected by a moving member that ismovable. Herein, the external apparatus 300 may be a docking apparatusas described above, but is not limited thereto.

Under this condition, input of a release command from the externalapparatus 300 is received (S1310). Specifically, the input of a releasecommand may be received through a user interface window, or through aseparate physical button. When the external apparatus 300 and theelectronic apparatus 100 are connected through a cable connector 400,the physical button may be provided on the button to release a connector410 of the cable connector 400 from the electronic apparatus 100. Orwhen the external apparatus 300 is directly connected with theelectronic apparatus 100, the physical button may be provided on thebutton to release the external apparatus 300 from the electronicapparatus 100.

Thereafter, the operation mode of the electronic apparatus 100 isconverted from a second operation mode to a first operation mode(S1320). Specifically, upon receiving input of a release command, theoperation mode of the electronic apparatus 100 may be converted to afirst operation mode of using only the function in the electronicapparatus 100. For example, the function herein may be a graphicprocessing function.

Subsequently, when the electronic apparatus 100 is converted to a firstoperation mode, a physical connection between the external apparatus 300and the electronic apparatus 100 may be released by using the movingmember (S1330).

The control method according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept described above prevents a physical shortcircuit between the electronic apparatus 100 and the external apparatus300 by using a locking unit 220 in a second operation mode in which thegraphic processing unit 310 of the external apparatus 300 is used. Thecontrol method in FIG. 13 may be implemented on the electronic apparatus100 having a configuration of FIG. 2, and may also be implemented on anelectronic apparatus 100 having other configurations. Further, thecontrol method in FIG. 13 may be implemented on an external apparatus300 having a configuration of FIG. 3.

The present general inventive concept can also be embodied ascomputer-readable codes on a non-transitory computer-readable medium.The non-transitory computer-readable medium can include acomputer-readable recording medium and a computer-readable transmissionmedium. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium is anydata storage device that can store data that can be thereafter read by acomputer system. Examples of the computer-readable recording mediuminclude read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs,magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical data storage devices. Thecomputer-readable recording medium can also be distributed over networkcoupled computer systems so that the computer-readable code is storedand executed in a distributed fashion. The computer-readabletransmission medium can transmit carrier waves or signals (e.g., wiredor wireless data transmission through the Internet). Also, functionalprograms, codes, and code segments to accomplish the present generalinventive concept can be easily construed by programmers skilled in theart to which the present general inventive concept pertains.

Although various embodiments of the present general inventive concepthave been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments withoutdeparting from the principles and spirit of the general inventiveconcept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic apparatus connectable with anexternal apparatus, the electronic apparatus comprising: a lockingmechanism configured to be operated to one of lock or unlock a physicalconnection with the external apparatus; and a processor configured tocontrol one of a plurality of operation modes of the electronicapparatus, while the electronic apparatus and the external apparatus areconnected, wherein the processor is further configured to control thelocking mechanism to maintain the lock of the physical connection withthe external apparatus if the electronic apparatus is in an operationmode in which the electronic apparatus uses a graphic processing unit ofthe external apparatus to perform graphic processing.
 2. The electronicapparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a graphic processorconfigured to perform graphic processing.
 3. The electronic apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein, if the electronic apparatus and theexternal apparatus are not connected, the processor is furtherconfigured to control the electronic apparatus to operate in a firstoperation mode in which the electronic apparatus uses only a graphicprocessor of the electronic apparatus to perform graphic processing, andwherein, if the electronic apparatus and the external apparatus areconnected, the processor is further configured to control the electronicapparatus to operate in a second operation mode in which the electronicapparatus uses at least one of the graphic processing unit of theexternal apparatus and the graphic processor to perform graphicprocessing.
 4. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising: a communication interface configured to receive a releasecommand from the external apparatus.
 5. The electronic apparatus asclaimed in claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured tocontrol the locking mechanism to release the physical connection withthe external apparatus if the release command is received by thecommunication interface.
 6. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim4, wherein, if the release command is received, the processor is furtherconfigured to use only a graphic processor of the electronic apparatusto perform graphic processing, and wherein, after the processor controlsto use only the graphic processor of the electronic apparatus, theprocessor is further configured to control the locking mechanism torelease the physical connection with the external apparatus.
 7. Theelectronic apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein, if the releasecommand is received by the communication interface while the electronicapparatus is in the operation mode in which the electronic apparatususes the graphic processing unit of the external apparatus to performgraphic processing, the processor is further configured to control thelocking mechanism to maintain the lock of the physical connection withthe external apparatus despite the release command being received by thecommunication interface.
 8. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim4, wherein, if the release command is received by the communicationinterface while the electronic apparatus is in the operation mode inwhich the electronic apparatus uses the graphic processing unit of theexternal apparatus to perform graphic processing, the processor isfurther configured to control an indicator to indicate that the physicalconnection between the electronic apparatus and the external apparatusin unable to be released.
 9. The electronic apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising: a user interface configured to receive aninput to release the physical connection with the external apparatus.10. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:a socket configured to interface between the electronic apparatus andthe external apparatus, wherein the electronic apparatus and theexternal apparatus are connected through the socket and the releasecommand is received from the external apparatus through the socket. 11.The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronicapparatus is configured to indicate that the electronic apparatus isdetachable from the external apparatus, while the external apparatus isconnected with the electronic apparatus.
 12. The electronic apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured todisplay a notification that the electronic apparatus is detachable. 13.The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: asocket configured to interface between the electronic apparatus and theexternal apparatus, wherein the socket is directly connected with theexternal apparatus.
 14. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 13,wherein the socket is interfaced with the external apparatus via atleast one of high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) andthunderbolt.
 15. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe graphic processing unit of the external apparatus is a discretegraphic processing unit (dGPU) provided on a main board.
 16. A method ofcontrolling an electronic apparatus connectable with an externalapparatus, the electronic apparatus including a locking mechanismconfigured to be operated to one of lock or unlock a physical connectionwith the external apparatus, and a processor configured to control oneof a plurality of operation modes of the electronic apparatus, while theelectronic apparatus and the external apparatus are connected, themethod comprising: locking, by the locking mechanism, the physicalconnection with the external apparatus; and controlling, by theprocessor, the locking mechanism to maintain the lock of the physicalconnection with the external apparatus if the electronic apparatus is inan operation mode in which the electronic apparatus uses a graphicprocessing unit of the external apparatus to perform graphic processing.17. An electronic system, comprising: an external apparatus comprising agraphic processing unit; an electronic apparatus comprising a graphicprocessor; and a locking mechanism incorporated in one of the electronicapparatus and the external apparatus, the locking mechanism configuredto be operated to one of lock or unlock a physical connection betweenthe external apparatus and the electronic apparatus, wherein theelectronic apparatus is configured to control the locking mechanism tomaintain the lock of the physical connection with the external apparatusif the electronic apparatus is in an operation mode in which theelectronic apparatus uses the graphic processing unit of the externalapparatus to perform graphic processing.
 18. The electronic system asclaimed in claim 17, wherein the external apparatus further comprises: akeyboard configured to receive an input to release the physicalconnection; and a socket configured to interface between the externalapparatus and the electronic apparatus.
 19. The electronic system asclaimed in claim 18, wherein the electronic apparatus is furtherconfigured to change a current operation mode of the electronicapparatus to an operation mode in which the electronic apparatus usesonly the graphic processor to perform graphic processing if the input torelease the physical connection is received from the external apparatus,and wherein the electronic apparatus is further configured to controlthe locking mechanism to release the physical connection from theexternal apparatus if the current operation mode of the electronicapparatus is changed to the operation mode in which the electronicapparatus uses only the graphic processor to perform graphic processing.20. The electronic system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the electronicapparatus is further configured to indicate that the electronicapparatus is detachable from the external apparatus if the lockingmechanism releases the physical connection from the external apparatus.